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The contract of Didier Deschamps at the head of the France team has been extended until 2026, announced the coach of the Blues during the General Assembly of the French Football Federation (FFF) on Saturday January 7 in Paris. Arriving at the helm of the France team in 2012, Deschamps was at the end of his contract at the end of the World Cup in Qatar where the Blues reached the final, won by Argentina.
Arriving at the helm of the France team in 2012, Deschamps was at the end of his contract at the end of the World Cup in Qatar where the Blues reached the final, won by Argentina. ” I am going to announce something that gives me great pleasure, namely that my president has decided to extend me until 2026 said Deschamps from the rostrum of the General Assembly where he was greeted by a standing ovation. ” I thank the president (Noël Le Graët, editor’s note) for his continued support and continued trust, he added. This is something that is essential in the functioning of the France team. »
Longevity
Deschamps, 54 years old and who wanted – from the start – to obtain a lease until the Mondial-2026 (in the United States, Canada and Mexico), therefore won his case while Noël Le Graët wanted to extend it until at Euro-2024 in Germany. The 1998 world champion has the greatest longevity in the position ahead of Michel Hidalgo, who stayed eight years and six months (March 1976 – June 1984), the record for matches on the French bench (138, far from the 79 of the previous holder Raymond Domenech) and, above all, the most beautiful track record.
« DD »
Named two years after Knysna’s fiasco at the South African World Cup and a mandate from Laurent Blanc, the one affectionately nicknamed “DD” has put the blue ship back on the water with constant progress: a quarter-final in the World-2014 Brazilian (lost 1-0 against Germany, future winner), a final lost at Euro-2016 in France and the world title in Russia before a new final in Qatar in 2022. His only failure took place at Euro-2021 where the Blues were eliminated in the round of 16 by Switzerland.
The vice-world champions will therefore return to competition on March 24 at the Stade de France against the Netherlands for the start of qualifying for Euro-2024. The only trophy that the coach – a native of Bayonne – did not win on the tricolor bench.
(With AFP)
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